Pink ball makes Lord's debut

LONDON (Reuters) - Members at the traditional home of cricket were treated to the sight of a fluorescent pink ball being smashed across the outfield when the MCC beat Scotland in a one-day match at Lord's on Monday.

The pink ball was being used as an experiment to see if it retained its visibility longer than the white version that has become established in one-day games.

The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), guardians of the laws of the game, will study feedback from the trial and may consider using a pink ball in county fixtures and one-day internationals if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) agrees.

"MCC were tasked with finding a white ball that lasts the course," the club's head of cricket John Stephenson told the BBC. "Kookaburra presented me with a luminous pink ball and I thought it had potential.

"We decided to play various research games this summer and this is the start of it. At the end of the summer we'll draw some conclusions which I will report to the ECB."

Lord's also broke with tradition by staging its first floodlit match last year. Now pink balls could become a regular feature judging by the reaction of some players.

"The first five or 10 overs in the field it was a bit strange, a bit surreal, but after that it was no problem," said former Kent and England spinner Min Patel.

"The ball didn't behave any differently, it didn't react any differently, and if anything it was a lot easier to pick up in the deep when you're fielding.

"Having played with it I don't see any reason why it won't be used in international cricket."